Best Local Clothing Designer
Emily Bargeron
"To say that Emily Bargeron makes original use of a Mexican blanket is to understate the sexy perfection of a simple maxidress in Tijuana tequila tones." — from "Fierce Fashion, Made in Savannah," Connect Savannah, 4/24/13.
Statesboro native Bargeron has captured the hearts of local fashionistas with Mamie Ruth, her colorful line of dresses and separates. Named after her grandma who imparted the importance of individual style, Mamie Ruth employs a bevy of cultural influences that Bargeron calls "music festival chic."
"Woven Mexican blankets, Aztec lines, African tribal prints — I love all of those traditions and bringing them together," says the 28 year-old Georgia Southern grad in her distinctive honeyed drawl. "I also love the whole hippie thing."
Bargergon debuted as an emerging designer at Charleston Fashion Week in 2009, and Mamie Ruth's free-spirited designs are now sold in 53 stores around the country including Hawaii, the Hamptons and local boutiques Custard and J. Paige. There will be less bare midriffs and longer hemlines in Mamie Ruth's upcoming fall/winter line, which Bargeron describes as the embodiment of a "space gypsy in Arizona" vibe.
"The typical Mamie Ruth woman is unique. She stands out in a crowd. She likes to travel and have a good time."
Inspired by jam band fests like Coachella and Bonnaroo, Bargeron can often be found frolicking down in front of the stage. She confesses to knocking Grace Potter's tour bus with a bag of Mamie Ruth samples when the rocker was in town last year. She hasn't spotted Potter wearing one of her multi-hued jersey dresses yet, and she's perfectly content seeing her designs on others.
"It makes me so happy when I see people on the street or at a show wearing Mamie Ruth and they're just rocking it," says Bargeron. "I want to make clothes that make people want to dance."
— Jessica Leigh Lebos
Runner Up: April Johnston
Best Arts/Crafts Store
Best New Store
When it was announced last summer that Blick Art Materials, a national chain had bought out Primary Art Supply, there was a momentary collective freakout.
But Primary's longtime co-owner Robyn Reeder promised that this wasn't a case of a big bad corporation putting a little local shop out of business: Blick had offered jobs to all of the employees of the independent art store that had occupied 14 E. Broughton for almost 20 years. It also vowed not only to maintain Primary's practices of showcasing artists and giving back to the community but to ramp them up tenfold.
"It'll be like Primary on steroids," Reeder told Connect in June 2012.
Blick Art Materials opened its magnificent new space down the block in August, with massive amounts of inventory and a spacious gallery loft. The Primary spirit remains palpable in the quirky gift selection and trademark giant paint tubes on the wall. Judging by all the reports and your votes, Blick has made good on its commitments to its employees and local artists.
"We're all still here," says manager Rob Caufield, who worked as a buyer at the old Primary. "The company gives us a lot of opportunity to run the store the way we think is best and to do outreach in the community."
Events have included in-store printmaking workshops and revolving exhibits featuring the likes of Jose Ray and the Savannah Fiber Guild. The corporate backing has also allowed the store to sponsor outside happenings around the city like the A-Town Get Town festival last March.
"While we are the largest family-owned business in the industry, it is our being in stock, service, and community involvement that set us apart from the rest," said Ed Ogorzaly, Retail President of Blick Art Materials.
The latest Blick news is that the Illinois-based company has acquired Utrecht, another national chain with a Savannah outlet. The new partnership will allow Blick to market signature Utrecht products, and the Utrecht store on the opposite end of town at 111 MLK Blvd. will now carry more than $100K of additional inventory. How's that for flexing its muscles?
— Jessica Leigh Lebos
Runner Up, Arts/Crafts Store: Michael's
Runner Up, New Store: Graveface Records
Best Furniture Store
Best Window Display
24e
It's been quite a year for Ruel Joyner and company at 24e. Business has been through the roof, due not only to the range of excellent merchandise in the store but through a concerted effort to make 24e not just a store, but a community hangout and networking hub. An extensive remodel downstairs and upstairs in the historic building has also added a good bit of punch.
Runner-up, Furniture: Whelan's
Runner-up: Window: Paris Market
Best Indie Bookstore
E. Shaver Booksellers
This Savannah institution combines a wide breadth of knowledge with a truly fun browsing experience, all on one of our most picturesque squares.
Runner-up: The Book Lady
Best Comic Book Store
Home Run Cards and Comics
This downtown institution ably made the necessary technological transition away from being a video store — and back into print! Go figure.
Runner-up: Comics and More
Best Musical Instrument Store
Portman's Music Superstore
It's fun to just wander around admiring the various guitars and drum sets. Also — keep this in mind for Christmas — lots of cool musically-oriented gift ideas all over the place.
Best Cigar/Tobacco Shop
Ye Ole Tobacco Shop
Smoke signals keep risin' from both Ye Ole's Bay Street and Eisenhower locations.
Runner-up: Savannah Cigars
Best Motorcycle Dealer
Savannah Harley-Davidson
The showcase store is at I-95 and 204 but you should go buy a Harley at their River Street location so you can just rumble down the cobblestones.
Runner-up: Motorini
Best Lawn and Garden Store
Home Depot
The big dog is back for another win.
Runner-up: Hester & Zipperer
Best Scooter Dealer
Motorini
Set in a restored classic old gas station on Drayton, this is your place to get a new Vespa or Piaggio scooter, or maybe a pre-owned little beauty.
Runner-up: Star Bike of Savannah
Best Bicycle Shop
Perry Rubber Bike Shop
This place is cool just to browse in, for its line of top-flight, funky and cool bikes in great designs.
Runner-up: Bicycle Link
Best Place to Buy New Car
Best Place to Buy a Used Car
Grainger Honda
From their sprawling hub on Chatham Parkway, Grainger is wheelin' and dealin' all kinds of Hondas, new and used, and is a perennial winner.
Runner-up, New: JC Lewis
Runner-up, Used: Vaden Nissan
Best Auto Repair
Mall Auto
A friendly, informal atmosphere combines with honest service for a satisfying customer experience.
Runner-up: Dixie Motors
Best Car Wash
Savannah Car Wash
A Fastpass gets you unlimited washes for about $40 a month. There's a Jiffy Lube inside. Get yer wash on!
Runner-up: Auto Shine
Best Rental Car Company
Enterprise
With six neighborhood locations and one at the airport, Enterprise has got you covered however you roll.
Runner-up: Avis
Best Military Discount
Lowe's
Supporting the troops by putting their money where their mouth is.
Runner-up: Bass Pro Shops
Best Place to Buy a Boat
Bass Pro Shops
Their core marine product is still the Tracker Marine Group, which back in the day was the first boat/motor/trailer package you could buy.
Runner-up: Boater's Paradise
Best Toy Store
Toys 'R' Us
Still Savannah's favorite choice for wholesome kid's entertainment and activity, from trendy toys and video games to good old-fashioned bikes.
Runner-up: Planet Fun
Best Daycare
Calvary Day School
Calvary expertly balances attentive care with the resources to serve a very large number of families.
Runner-up:Maggie's Morning School
Best Frame Shop
Trends & Traditions
A bigger, better space on Waters Avenue means even more framing options for ya, whether for casual decorative purposes or preserving that treasured, irreplaceable work of art or heirloom.
Runner-up: Frame of Mind
Best Boutique
Best Women's Clothing Store
Red Clover
Since 2007 this hotspot at the corner of Bull and East Perry Lane has clothed Savannah women with a blend of class and sass, always looking for the coolest indie designers.
Runner-up, Boutique: Gaucho
Runner-up, Women's: Civvies
Best Men's Clothing Store
J. Parker Limited
Whether the Broughton Street spot or the Waters Avenue location, J. Parker has clothed Savannah's classiest gents for decades.
Runner-up: Arc
Best Thrift/Vintage Clothing Store
Civvies
Take a walk up to the second floor of this Broughton location to find a wealth of fashion forward, pre-owned clothes and accessories for girls and guys, all in immaculate shape.
Runner-up: Goodwill
Best Children's Clothing Store
Sara Jane Children's Boutique
A sunny, friendly shop in the beautiful Victorian District.
Runner-up: Punch & Judy
Best Jeweler
Levy Jewelers
Of course the big news in the world of Levy is their move down Broughton Street into the primo space at Bull and Broughton in the old Il Pasticcio storefront. It would have been pretty sad for that spot to get sucked up by a national chain, or even worse, be vacant. Thank goodness for local businesses stepping up and making things happen!
Runner-up: Harkleroad Jewelers
Best Local Jewelry Designer
Danielle Hughes Rose
Danielle owns this category, having won every year since its inception. Her unique brand of sleek, strong, yet sexy metal work keeps clients interested — and interesting!
Runner-up: Marion Harkleroad
Best Eyewear Store
LensCrafters
With a Twelve Oaks and an Oglethorpe Mall location, folks can get an eye exam, some frames, and still have time to do some shopping.
Runner-up: Boland Eye Center
Best Shoe Store
Globe Shoe Company
Another one of those great Savannah institutions, Globe has managed to stay trendy with the times while always respecting its grand tradition, stretching back to the 19th century.
Runner-up: Fleet Feet Sports
Best Bead Store
Epiphany Beads and Jewelry Studio
Formerly Bead Dreamer, this little southside spot delivers the baubles.
Runner-up: Perlina Bead Shop
Best Costume Store
Acme Costumes
Yeah, this is the place to be for your garden variety Jack Sparrow outfit or sexy Halloween garb.
Runner-up: Party City
Best Novelty Store
Sunset Novelties
Couples-friendly adult store, with smoking accessories. As in "smokin'" and as in actual smoking. Uh, just go check 'em out.
Runner-up: The Comedy Store
Best Green Business
The Sentient Bean
One of Savannah's first truly green-conscious businesses, The Bean continues to do the right thing by selling organic, Fair Trade coffee, recycling like crazy, and sponsoring lots of cool things in the community. Their expansive vegetarian/vegan menu concentrates on locally-sourced, fresh ingredients. And two words, people: ORGANIC LAGER.
Runner-up: Green Truck Pub
Best Gift Store
Polka Dots
Get yer Vera Bradley stuff, Lily Pulitzer gifts and more at this cute spot on Whitemarsh Island.
Runner-up: Savannah Bee Company/Paris Market
Best Surf Shop
High Tide Surf Shop
A Tybee institution since the forming of the oceans, many eons ago. Well, not really, it was 1984. But still! They've been taking care of your surf/beach needs for a long time.
Runner-up: Waves
Best Antiques Shop
Habersham Antiques Market
In the old Smith Brothers location on the edge of Baldwin Park, the 70 or so dealers who vend out of Habersham Antiques offer a range of home goods from across the centuries, as well as an impressive variety of valuable collectibles.
Runner-up: Jere's Antiques
Best Grocery Store
Publix
Service with a smile, fully stocked aisles, gleaming tiles for miles and miles. Also a great place to buy groceries.
Runner-up: Kroger
Best Gourmet Grocery Store
Fresh Market
You really could do all your shopping here — produce, meats, dairy, frozen products. And real MEXICAN COKE.
Runner-up: Brighter Day
Best Health Food Store
Brighter Day Natural Foods
The Brodhead family has run this seminal Savannah institution for a quarter century, anchoring the south end of Forsyth Park long before it became hip. They made it hip!
Runner-up: GNC
Best Sporting Goods Store
Bass Pro Shops
This Savannah Mall anchor store has everything for the old school outdoorsman, from angling to hunting to camping.
Runner-up: Half Moon Outfitters
Best Lighting Store
Circa Lighting
From basic to designer, Circa — in the Downtown Design District on Whitaker near the park— provides personalized service in being the light of your life.
Runner-up: 24e
Best Maid Service
Green Methods
This locally-owned eco-friendly cleaning service relies on only natural cleaning products and methods, to keep your work or home environment safe for children, pets, and everybody.
Runner-up: Merry Maids
Best Mall/Shopping Center
Oglethorpe Mall
Savannah's first mall has experienced several upgrades and remains a vibrant, popular place to shop.
Runner-up: Savannah Mall
Best Florist
John Davis Florist
A key business owner in the Victorian District, John's been in the flower business since the '80s and really knows his stamen from his pistil. His arrangements have graced many a local wedding, bar mitzvah and graduation.
Runner-up: Garden on the Square Best Pet Store
Best Pet Boutique
TailsSpin Pet Supplies
Quickly becoming one of Savannah's most beloved and most high-profile small businesses — no small accomplishment for one based outside downtown — this Habersham Village canine and feline hotspot now has a location in Pooler, as well as one in — wait for it — Macon!
Runner-up, Pet Store: PetSmart
Runner-up: Boutique: The Grateful Hounds
Best Pawn Shop
Welsh Pawn
Celebrating a century of locally-owned goodness, Welsh Pawn now has three locations with plenty of jewelry, coins, instruments, bikes, tools, and firearms to choose from.
Runner-up: Gold Mine
Best Pet Grooming
Diva Dogs Pet Grooming Salon
Full service grooming, a la carte, nail painting, deep conditioning. And two words: BLUEBERRY FACIAL.
Runner-up: Top Dog Grooming Spa
Best Bed & Breakfast
The Gastonian
Famed for its delightful gardens as well as its world-class hospitality, the Gastonian is in an elite class of luxury accommodation. Now owned by the HLC Hotels group, the Gastonian was voted one of the 50 best small hotels in the world by the readers of Condé Nast.
Runner-up: Hamilton-Turner Inn
Best Hotel
Mansion on Forsyth Park
This AAA Four Diamond property routinely wins awards for overall hospitality, service and cleanliness, not to mention a killer location right on the park.
Runner-up: Bohemian Hotel
Best Lawyer
Best Law Firm
Michael G. Hostilo
While this personal injury attorney catapulted to notoriety in a bizarre hostage standoff involving a former client, keep in mind that there's never too much notoriety for a lawyer. Hostilo has a long list of satisfied clients dating back to 1993.
Runner-up:< James Byrne
Best Local Insurance Agency
Sam Sharpe/State Farm
This Southside-based agent gets rave customer reviews.
Runner-up: Bernard Williams
Best Real Estate Agent
Chelsea Phillips
This Keller Williams agent is bringing the new domiciles like a BOSS.
Runner-up: Don Callahan
Best Real Estate Agency
Keller Williams Realty
This agency routinely dominates this category year after year.
Runner-up:Celia Dunn
Best Local Moving Company
Two Men and a Truck
Come on. They win this category so often, they've got to have more than two guys by now.
Best Self Storage 24 Hour Self Store Hey, the name says it all. They got it ALL DAY. Runner-up: Chatham Parkway Self Storage Best Local Homebuilder J.T. Turner Construction If there's a project going on in the area, chances are good ol' JT is in on it. Yeah, we're on a first-name basis. Runner-up: Landmark 24 Best Landscaper Savannah Green Dirt Design From budgeting to planning to landscaping to maintenance, these guys have all the dirt on your project. Get it? Runner-up: DLG Land Management Best Wireless Provider Verizon Wireless Again, the superior network and call quality garner a repeat win for Verizon in this category. Runner-up: T-Mobile Best Bank Wells Fargo Bank They used to be a staple of the West Coast, but aggressive expansion has put them into the mix in the South. Runner-up: Suntrust Best Taxi Service Savannah Pedicab Refreshingly, we get to write about non-motorized transportation in this space. These human-powered taxis have become downtown Savannah institutions, on the move. Runner-up: Yellow Cab Best Limo Service Coastal Limousine These are the guys to call when you gotta class it up a bit. Runner-up: Savannah Limousine Best Place to Work Gulfstream Aerospace Not only one of Savannah's largest employers, but certainly the one with the highest level of across the board employee satisfaction, morale and sense of shared mission. Runner-up: Savannah Pedicab Store or Business You're Most Sorry to See Go Sol Restaurant Look at the bright side: Blowin' Smoke has moved into the same space and is doling out some southwestern yummies there, partially in honor of the previous incarnation. Runner-up:< Saigon on Broughton
